“Julian has again impressively demonstrated his value and importance to our squad this season,” declared the Bayer 04 sporting director Simon Rolfes. “He has taken responsibility and led the way when it was particularly needed - in one of the many phases with players out due to injury,” said Rolfes. “We very much look forward to having him in the squad for another year as a proven leader.”
And for sporting managing director Rudi Völler, Baumgartlinger is “an anchor and stabilising factor, especially for our young players. Julian’s experience on and off the pitch is worth it’s weight in gold,” said Völler in praising the 33-year-old midfielder.
Baumgartlinger joined the Werkself in 2016 from FSV Mainz 05 where he was the captain. “The almost five years at the top level here at Leverkusen mean a lot to me. The fact the club is not only sticking with me during my current injury but also continuing to count on me speaks for itself,” said the Austrian. “That confidence does you good. Bayer 04 and everybody associated with the club can be sure I will do all I can, as I have in the past, to justify that.”
The situation ahead of the showdown is clear - and promising. The Bayer 04 U19s host Newcastle United on the sixth and final matchday of the 2025/26 UEFA Youth League phase. A win at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium would see the Werkself go through to the knockout stages of the competition for the first time. Ahead of the clash on Wednesday, 10 December (kick-off: 14:00 CET/livestream on bayer04.de and in the Bayer 04 app), coach Kevin Brok spoke about the successful build-up, his assessment of the match and the danger of underestimating the already eliminated English side.
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The Werkself will host VfB Stuttgart at the BayArena on matchday 16 of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season. The game is on Saturday, 10 January, at 18:30 CET. Information on ticket sales.
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The Werkself will host Werder Bremen at the BayArena on matchday 19 of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season. The game is on Saturday, 24 January, at 15:30 CET. Information on ticket sales.
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In the sixth and final match of the league phase of the UEFA Youth League 2025/26, the Bayer 04 U19s have a great opportunity to advance to the knockout phase of Europe’s most prestigious youth competition for the first time. To achieve that under their own steam, they will need a win against Newcastle United at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium on Wednesday, 10 December (kick-off: 14:00 CET/ free admission). In an interview with bayer04.de, managing director sport Simon Rolfes analyses the team's performances so far and their special situation. And the 43-year-old reveals what he would be happy to do without on the day of the match.
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The next opponents in the 2025/26 DFB Pokal have been announced: Bayer 04 will host Bundesliga rivals FC St. Pauli in the quarter-finals. That was the outcome of the draw held this Sunday evening, 7 December, at the German Football Museum in Dortmund, where long-time Bundesliga player and coach Friedhelm Funkel made the draw. The Werkself will play their quarter-final tie on 3-4 or 10-11 February 2026. The exact dates have yet to be finalised.
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